BroadneckBlue21

February 8th, 2021 at 1:30 PM ^

It would be dumb to pretend or deny or scoff at the impacts of the pandemic. Maybe those teams wouldn’t have been great, but for any Coach K or Cal team with their recruits to be this bad is not because they lack talent or coaches forgot how to coach. The anomaly has factors. Teams react differently—people react differently.

Acknowledging the challenges of some doesn’t discredit the success UM has been having—nor does it diminish the team’s talent level. They aren’t playing the same teams, or living in the same states with the same protocols or case levels. 

I can guarantee, though, that if UM’s return sees them struggle that plenty will blame the layoff and the “stupid pandemic” and “stupid Schlissel” with no irony for how this would externalize their team bias. After all, if the pandemic isn’t a factor, the same team is going to be returning to the hardwood. 

Joined: 01/12/2015

MGoPoints: 6311

oriental andrew

February 8th, 2021 at 9:17 AM ^

Just to be clear, this isn't an "official" AP or coaches poll. This is the 25+1 CBS does on their own every week. Nice to be recognized, but would love to see our boys play some games. 

Also, just for fun:

If Duke were in the Big Ten, their NET rating of 71 would put them at #12 in the conference, ahead of only Northwestern, msu, and Nebraska. 

Kentucky at 80 would also be 12th in the Big Ten. 

UNC at 50 would be 11th in the Big Ten. 

Kansas at 26 would be 8th (!) in the Big Ten.

And msu at 91 is, in fact, 13th in the conference, ahead of only Nebrasketball. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 56189

My Name is LEGIONS

February 8th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^

This is only part of it, and not sure how much, BUT.....I truly believe that not having fans and the intimidation in stands, for these programs that are tanking, has been a big difference.... as its a huge advantage for these programs... and in a sense the playing field gets closer to level, just this season.  I cannot say how much, but we saw the same thing in football.... programs like ours and PSU, with massive stadiums tanked, and then programs like NW, who never had any semblance of a home field advantage, thrived.    

Joined: 10/29/2014

MGoPoints: 4872

Blue Vet

February 9th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^

As I understand MyNameIsLEGIONS' point, it's not simply home crowds, which every team has, but is the greater effect of the elite programs. After all, Duke's fans weren't automatically "Cameron Crazies" but learned to act that way over years, encouraged by TV coverage and comments.

 

Joined: 05/08/2012

MGoPoints: 71282

lhglrkwg

February 8th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^

Remember when the Big Ten used to get pushed around by the ACC in the challenge every year? The league has gotten so much better over the last decade. It's fun (and it helps that Michigan is usually on the upper end of the league)

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87967

Perkis-Size Me

February 8th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^

I'm still bothered by Coach K making excuses for the season two months and and how we probably shouldn't be playing.

You don't really care about player safety. Or at least not as much as you're letting on. You're just pissed your team sucks, its losing, and now you want to pick up your ball and go home because shit isn't going your way for the first time in years. If his team is 12-2 or 13-1 like I'm sure he expected to be at this point, he doesn't open his mouth once.

I think this season will be a great opportunity for a non blueblood to shine and take center stage. Maybe Gonzage finally wins it all. Or hell, why not Michigan.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105781

Newton Gimmick

February 8th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^

Looking further, here is what I found since the first AP poll on January 17, 1949 -

A total of weeks where none of the aforementioned programs (UNC, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, MSU, & UCLA) were ranked:

12/29/52: UCLA drops out of the then-Top 20, and *Wayne State* enters.  That was the only week the Tartars/Warriors were ever ranked:
http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=46#.YCHici2z21s

1/5/53: The following week, before UCLA re-enters 1/12:
http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=47#.YCHiuC2z21s

2/22/60: UNC drops out for a week.  The state of Ohio has three teams ranked including Toledo:
http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=153#.YCHjVy2z21s

12/18/61: As mentioned above, this one is only Top 10. Unlike the previous ones, also excludes Indiana: http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=170#.YCHkXS2z21s

2/8/21: Today.  Excludes the Top 13 winningest programs in Division 1 history (Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, Duke, Temple, Syracuse, UCLA, Notre Dame, St John's, Indiana, Cincinnati, Utah, Arizona -- in addition to more recent bluebloods Louisville & MSU): http://collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=2021&appollid=1216#.YCHkki2z21s

So yeah this is a pretty incredible poll.  Like finding a football poll without Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, Nebraska, or any of the Florida teams.

 

 

Joined: 05/06/2015

MGoPoints: 33792

oriental andrew

February 8th, 2021 at 11:47 AM ^

This is where people start getting pedantic about terminology. If you define "blue blood" as a program which is historically great, then msu isn't a blue blood because their historically great run started just 23 years ago with Izzo. For most, that's not enough history to put them alongside UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, and even Duke (which really started with kryzysefsdaswkafi in 1980). 

But asking the question differently - are they an elite program - yields a different answer. I don't think there is any way you can deny that msu is an elite program over the past 2+ decades. That kind of longevity is incredibly difficult to sustain. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 56189

trueblueintexas

February 8th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^

There would be no bluebloods without cheating.

UCLA in the 60's & 70's  - Wooden claimed he knew nothing, but even some of the former players have admitted they got the best talent to UCLA with a little help beyond Wooden's success. You could easily argue all of the blood has been drained out of UCLA at this point. They haven't truly been relevant since their last championship in 1995 and a brief stint from 2005 - 2007.

Kentucky, Duke, UNC, Kansas? Ha! None of those teams would have had the sustained success they have had since the 80's without Nike & Adidas funneling the best talent to them. 

I'm happy the FBI officially exposed college basketballs open secret. Now maybe the game can be fun for everyone instead of just 4-5 teams year after year. I will not shed a tear for any of those teams. They have ended the seasons of so many other deserving teams through cheating. I'm happy to see them all suffer this year and I hope it continues for the next 3 decades to balance it all out.

Joined: 11/10/2008

MGoPoints: 36699

Richard75

February 8th, 2021 at 1:07 PM ^

It is impressive, but those aren't championships.

What's fascinating about Izzo/MSU is how people have come to treat making the Final Four as no less an accomplishment than reaching (and losing) the title game. Izzo has done the latter only twice in those eight trips.

This perception is a byproduct of how the tournament is spaced out. When you make the Final Four, people talk about how great your team is for a whole week. 

Joined: 09/23/2008

MGoPoints: 5290